Bridge



BRIDGE.

Patented June 16, 1896.

M. Pnmo-umawasum UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HIRTIE F. MITCHELL, OF RAYVILLE, TEXAS.

BRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 562,191, dated June 16, 1896.

Application filed. December 9, 1895. Serial No- 5'71A77. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HIRTIE F. MITCHELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bayville, in the county of Parker and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridges; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to bridges, and more particularly to suspension-bridges, and it has for its object, among others, to provide a simplified and cheapened construction of bridge whereby the weight and strain will be more equally divided and the braces so arranged that expansion and contraction laterally are avoided, while permitting of the necessary expansion and contraction, longitudinally of the bridge.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved bridge. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section through the same. Fig. 3 is avertical longitudinal section.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

As the novelty in the present invention resides solely in the details of construction of the sill, it is not deemed necessary to describe in detail the bridge in all its particulars.

In constructing the sill the cross-piece A has depending therefrom the strut B and near opposite ends the supports or pillars 0, all being secured to the arched or curved brace D, as seen in Fig. 2.

E are brace-rods,connecting the parts 0 and B, the same being crossed, as at b, and united at their points of intersection in any suitable manner. combining great strength and rigidity with lightness of material.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be observed that the bottom rod or plate F extends centrally beneath and lengthwise of the bridge, passin g under the center of each sill, being secured to the same in line with the strut B and in turn braced by the brace-rods G, extending from-end to end of the bridge or of the central portion thereof, as shown, extending from the bot-tom plate F up to the top of the strut and thence in an inclined direction to the bottom of the next strut, thence upward and so on, the two braces G G being crossed at their points of intersection midway between each two sills and united at their points of intersection g in any suitable manner.

It will be thus observed that my improved bridge and sills cannot expand or give laterally or otherwise except longitudinally or in the direction of the length of the bridge.

The parts of the bridge notherein described may be of any approved form of construction.

WVhat I claim as new is 1. The combination with the sills, of the longitudinal brace-rod secured to the central portion thereof and braces extending lengthwise of said rod, and connected to the central struts of the sills, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination with the sills, of the longitudinal brace-rod, secured to the central portion thereof, and braces extending1engthwise of said rod and connected to the central struts of the sills, said brace rods being crossed and secured together between each two struts, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HIRTIE F. MITCHELL.

Witnesses:

S. A. THOMPSON, ED. ESTES;

This provides a most improved sill, 

